Chicago-based technology incubator 1871 and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) announced Thursday the 12 businesses that make up the first cohort of a new incubator focused on fostering opportunities for Hispanic-owned technology companies. As part of the 12-week program, the tech companies will be provided educational programming, resources, technological support and guidance toward raising funding.

Alex Niemczewski was frustrated as she stared at her ballot in 2012.  “There were all these offices I’d never heard of, names I’ve never heard of,” she said. “I left some blanks and I felt like I didn’t do my civic duty.” It was that experience that led to the founding of BallotReady -- a comprehensive, non-partisan breakdown of your ballot -- in 2014. After 3 months building the site at 1871, multiple primaries and the addition of two co-founders, the site is now ready for the 2016 election, the first presidential election for the startup which can still be found working hard out of the University of Chicago conference room.

1871 announced Friday the arrival of three Finland-based startups, marking the first time partner company Sente Advisory Services has welcomed companies from the Finland to Chicago as part of Sente’s ongoing international efforts on behalf of 1871 and Chicago. The purpose of the program is to invite companies from overseas to Chicago in hopes that these companies are able to gain entry into the U.S. market through the relationships, introductions and efforts of the program.

1871 announced Thursday the expansion of WiSTEM, its women-focused entrepreneurship program that tackles major barriers faced by women in the entrepreneurship community. The expansion -- made possible by grant funding from JPMorgan Chase among other sponsors -- will allow for three cohort-based programs in 2017 that focus on capital, community and technology -- adding an extra cohort for the year. 

Civis Analytics and @properties were honored as the 2016 Merrick Momentum Awards winners at the 9th Annual Momentum Awards Dinner, held by the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center Thursday evening at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. The coveted award honors businesses that are on track to become the next great companies to emerge in Chicago.

The 9th Annual Momentum Dinner at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel was an enormous success, bringing together the best and brightest in Chicago to once again to celebrate the past, present and future of the Chicago entrepreneur. Hosted for the benefit of 1871 by the CEC, the 2016 Momentum Awards welcomed more than 800 guests to celebrate “Impact and Purpose” -- a theme that recognized the leaders in the community who embody the unique and unselfish spirit of the entrepreneurial community in Chicago.

Annual Award Recognizes The Best And Brightest Companies In Chicago; This Year Two Awardees Will Be Recognized

1871 and the CEC announced Tuesday that they will honor Jai Shekhawat, the founder of Fieldglass, for his dedication to the entrepreneurial community at the ninth annual Momentum Awards. The Entrepreneurial Champion Award will be presented to Shekhawat at the Momentum Awards Dinner. Shekhawat is a successful entrepreneur, mentor, and civic-leader who sold Fieldglass to SAP in 2015 in one of Chicago’s largest tech exits.

Even though other major cities in the U.S. are suffering from problems with gun-related violence, Chicago has sadly become the media poster child (hopefully just for the moment) and whipping boy specifically for gang-on-gang shootings and the related and random violence that continues to take innocent lives in its wake. 

Chicago-based technology incubator 1871 announced Thursday the twelve businesses that will make up the third cohort of WiSTEM, 1871’s unique program designed to cultivate success and opportunities for women in technology. The 12 companies and their founders will begin a sixteen-week curriculum on September 20, 2016.